The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its two-day strike after reaching an agreement with the Dangote Refinery and the Federal Government. The strike, which had led to widespread fuel supply disruptions across several states, was called off on Tuesday following a conciliation meeting in Abuja.
The agreement was brokered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with the support of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other stakeholders. In attendance were representatives of the Dangote Group led by Sayyu Dantata, officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). At the end of deliberations, the Dangote management formally conceded to workers’ demands, affirming their right to join recognised labour unions.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the meeting, the unionisation process will commence immediately and must be concluded between September 9 and 22, 2025. It was further agreed that no alternative or employer-controlled union would be created within the company and that no worker would face victimisation for participating in the strike or opting to unionise. The parties also resolved to brief the Minister of Labour one week after the conclusion of the unionisation exercise.
The truce came as a relief to Nigerians who had begun to feel the brunt of the industrial action. In states like Cross River, Enugu, and Kaduna, filling stations were locked, fuel prices skyrocketed, and transport fares doubled, leaving commuters stranded. Reports indicated that in some areas, black-market vendors sold fuel at over N1,500 per litre, while motorists in Gombe and Sokoto complained of arbitrary price hikes as panic buying intensified.
Before the suspension, NUPENG had accused the Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices, including attempts to create an alternative drivers’ association and prevent its 4,000 newly recruited truck drivers from joining the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the union. The union insisted that only recognised sector unions such as NUPENG and PENGASSAN have the legal authority to represent oil and gas workers.
Speaking after the meeting, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha described the agreement as a “victory for the Nigerian workforce” and reaffirmed that strikes remain a legitimate industrial tool, even though dialogue is always preferred. He stressed that NUPENG was not against the success of the Dangote Refinery but urged the company to “play by the rules” and respect labour laws.
With the suspension of the strike, loading of fuel is expected to resume across depots and filling stations from Wednesday, easing supply shortages and stabilising prices. The development underscores the importance of dialogue in resolving industrial disputes and highlights the government’s role in safeguarding workers’ rights while ensuring the country’s energy security.
